Long Time No See

"The south wind blows cool, the nightingale sings softly, the flowers under the moon are all dreaming, only the night-blooming jasmine exudes its fragrance..."

Green Water City, Carefree Dock.

Song Queen Jiang Mengting is performing at the Waltz Hall.

The Waltz Hall is not a large dance hall; the Waltz Hall in Carefree Dock can only accommodate up to thirty people and is a place for gatherings.

There are only two audience members today: Li Qi and Ma Wu.

Ma Wu lowered his voice and asked, "Seventh Brother, do you think she's pretty?"

Li Banfeng glanced at the record player behind Jiang Mengting and nodded, saying, "Beautiful."

"Honestly, have you noticed anything different about her?"

Li Banfeng was fairly familiar with Jiang Mengting. After Carefree Dock reopened, Jiang Mengting left Bai Le Men and rejoined Ma Wu's tutelage.

"She is very loyal to you."

Ma Wu nodded. "She is indeed loyal to me, but our relationship isn't what you're thinking."

Li Banfeng was startled. "Could you be siblings?"

Ma Wu shook his head repeatedly. After the song ended, he let Jiang Mengting leave the Waltz Hall first.

Only the two of them remained in the room. Ma Wu said to Li Banfeng, "Jiang Mengting is different from Xiao Xiufēi. Many of Xiao Xiufēi's achievements were earned through hard work, but Jiang Mengting's success today is entirely due to my support. Would you believe me if I said she's never slept with a man?"

This is hard to believe.

Having spent a year and a half in Pro State, Li Banfeng knew very well the quality of Song Queen and actresses. Why was Jiang Mengting so special?

Ma Wu said, "Because I've placed a heavy bet on her. I signed a contract with her that no matter how difficult things get, she can't sell herself without my permission."

She was different from other Song Queen. Many wealthy people longed for her, desired her, yet could never catch a glimpse of her. Even though she had Famous Courtesan Room at the Bai Le Men, others still couldn't reach her.

Only in this way can her own value skyrocket. When it comes to Song Queen, Jiang Mengting will always be number one. With her current status, I can also earn more money.

Li Banfeng laughed and said, "You're really a shrewd businessman."

Ma Wu shook his head and said, "It's not just about business; it's also about her own abilities. Every year, I can cultivate five or six rising stars under my wing. After three to five years, that number will reach twenty or thirty."

But someone as untouchable as her is a rare find; there can only be one like her every three to five years. Only in this way does she become precious, like a single rose among a hundred flowers—only then can that rose have value.

She deserves this price tag; she is worthy of it in terms of looks, temperament, and character.

She's a good woman, and I want to find her a good home. Seventh Brother, would you be willing to take her in?

I know you can't possibly marry a singer, but even taking her as a concubine is fine, even without any title, just keeping her by your side will do.

Li Banfeng frowned and said, "Why should I accept it? Why don't you accept it yourself?"

Ma Wu shook his head and said, "I can't accept it. I can't be sincere with a woman. There's only business between us."

Our business is about to go under, and I can no longer take care of her, so I want to find her a new home.

In the future, we brothers will live a peaceful life together, and with her by your side, I'll feel less guilty towards her.

Li Banfeng frowned and said, "Why is our business failing? Is it all because of that matter with the Guanfang Envoy?"

Ma Wu sighed and said, "They wanted to take over the newspaper and magazine business from Black Stone Slope before, but I didn't agree. You certainly won't let me agree either."

"Now the Guanfang Envoy has raised freight rates by 50%. All our businesses outside Green Water Bay are facing a 50% increase in freight costs. If this continues, all our businesses outside will be finished."

Li Banfeng took a sip of his drink. "Fifty percent shipping fee, is it really worth going to such lengths?"

Ma Wu took a fountain pen off his shirt and said to Li Banfeng, "This is a fountain pen produced in Black Stone Slope. It costs six yuan to make, but sells for twelve yuan in Black Stone Slope."

There are no factories in Medicine King Gully that can produce fountain pens, so a fountain pen sells for twenty-eight yuan. This isn't because the merchants are greedy, as the shipping cost for a pen is fifteen yuan.

Transporting a pen from Black Stone Slope to Medicine King Gully costs twenty-one yuan. The merchant needs to make a profit, adding seven yuan to that, bringing the total to twenty-eight yuan.

Li Banfeng hadn't really researched this matter. He knew that shipping costs to Pro State were expensive, but he didn't expect them to be this outrageously expensive.

"How much does this pen weigh? How could it cost fifteen yuan for shipping? If it were grain, how much would the shipping cost be per kilogram?"

Ma Wu sighed and said, "Seventh Brother, you really don't know the difficulties in business. The Guanfang Envoy doesn't set freight rates based on weight, but on price, according to the different market prices of goods in different regions. He's blatantly taking advantage of us."

He's now raised our shipping costs by 50%, so the shipping cost for this pen is already 22.5 yuan. Adding the cost of 6 yuan, the cost of transporting this pen to Medicine King Gully has exceeded the market price of 28 yuan. How can we possibly continue doing business like this?

Business outside is really impossible to do now.

Why not just give up all other businesses and focus solely on running the Green Water City business?

How many bloody battles did Li Qi and Ma Wu go through to accumulate their wealth today?

They were big shots in Pro State, influential figures. If they gave up their businesses outside the state, they would become just ordinary merchants in Green Water City, and all their previous efforts would be in vain.

This is a tricky matter, but Ma Wu can't think of a solution, "I wanted to try to Guanfang Envoy, but they're very firm. It's definitely not just about the books and newspapers."

This is related to what happened to the He Family before. He Yuxiu offended the Guanfang Envoy, and we strongly supported He Yuxiu. The Guanfang Envoy has also held us accountable for this.

Li Banfeng lit a cigarette and asked, "How is the He Family doing?"

"The Guanfang Envoy has doubled the He Family's freight charges. The He Family's business is finished, completely finished. Countless factories outside have gone out of business."

If it weren't for He Yuxiu's remaining prestige, the He Family would have been on the verge of collapse. He Yuxiu's whereabouts are currently unknown; if she were to fall into the hands of the Guanfang Envoy, the He Family would cease to exist among the powerful families of Pro State.

"Can we do business outside under the Lu Family's name?" On this point, Li Banfeng believed that Lu Chunying could cooperate.

In fact, Ma Wu has already done so, but it is unknown how long he can hold out. "The Guanfang Envoy wants to take over the Bai Le Men, but Lu Chunying has not agreed. If this stalemate continues, the Lu Family's shipping costs will probably have to go up."

"In other words, even the Lu Family is in dire straits."

Ma Wu nodded and said, "Among the Four Great Families, only the Chu family is currently riding high. The Guanfang Envoy has reduced their freight rates by 30%, and they will then drive down the prices of goods, squeezing out all our business. The Chu family will soon become the number one wealthy family in Pro State."

Li Banfeng, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, silently pondered the overall situation.

Seeing that Li Banfeng remained silent, Ma Wu offered a less-than-ideal suggestion. "Seventh Brother, let's go and discuss with Lu Chunying about selling the Bai Le Men to the Guanfang Envoy."

"First, we need to ease the tension between the Lu Family and the Guanfang Envoy. This will also ease our tension with the Guanfang Envoy. If we make a few more trips back and forth, perhaps this crisis will pass."

"Relax? Until when?" Li Banfeng shook his head. "We gave him the Bai Le Men today, and we agreed. Tomorrow he wants the Carefree Dock. Should we continue giving him gifts?"

Ma Wu knew this wasn't a long-term solution. "But what other good ideas are there?"

Li Banfeng asked first, "If we split our business and distribute it to a dozen or so different people, letting them run it separately, the Guanfang Envoy won't be able to target us, right?"

Ma Wu nodded. "That makes sense, but where can we find so many reliable people? It's not something that can be done overnight."

Someone has already done it.

Apart from Li Banfeng, no one else had targeted that person's business; he actually succeeded.

"Fifth brother, go find Shen Rongqing, invite her out, and talk to her about business."

Ma Wu waved his hand and said, "Seventh Brother, don't think I can get anything done in bed. Miss Shen doesn't even want to see me anymore."

Li Banfeng said, "Tell her I want to see her, I want to catch up with her."

Ma Wu was taken aback. "You know Shen Rongqing?"

"I don't know him."

Ma Wu was stunned. "We don't know each other, how can we catch up?"

Li Banfeng said, "Just tell her, she'll understand."

At Ling Family Shadow Play Company, Shen Rongqing didn't understand. "You mean, Li Qi wants to catch up with me? I don't know him at all."

Ma Wu laughed and said, "These are his exact words. I'll just pass on the message."

Shen Rongqing felt confused. After Ma Wu left, she told He Jiaqing what had happened.

He Jiaqing had just come out of the vegetable market and walked into an alley. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, he put the tray of an electronic scale on his head.

After a shiver, He Jiaqing felt refreshed and was about to return the tray when he suddenly felt the button on his chest vibrate.

"Jiaqing, Ma Wu came to see me today, saying that Li Qi wants to catch up with me. I don't know Li Qi at all. Should I see him or not?"

He Jiaqing was silent for a moment before saying, "See you."

"What will you say to me when you see me?"

"Just say, 'Long time no see.'"

"Long time no see? I haven't seen him at all..." Shen Rongqing was completely bewildered.

She couldn't understand what the two people meant at all.

Just as He Jiaqing was about to explain, a burly woman selling fish rushed into the alley and shouted, "What are you doing with my scale? Are you so desperate for money that you're even stealing this!"

In a private room at Spring Stream Teahouse, Shen Rongqing looked at Li Qi across from her, took a deep breath, and said, "Long time no see."

These words were awkward, but it was He Jiaqing's order, Shen Rongqing had no idea how Li Qi would react.

Li Qi's reaction was very natural. "Yes, it's been a long time. How have you been?"

Shen Rongqing was unaware of the current situation or the meaning behind Li Qi's words, so she could only reply, "It's fine."

Li Qi continued, "I have a bit of a problem, and I need your help."

He Jiaqing walked out of the foot massage parlor, carrying a foot bath bucket in his hand.

With the foot bath tub over his head, He Jiaqing clutched the buttons tightly. "Sister, have you met him?"

"I've seen it. The Guanfang Envoy freight charges has blocked their business. They want to use our channels to get their business running again."

He Jiaqing pondered for a moment and said, "That works too. Let them sell their products locally, and we can resell them. We won't lose out, and we can even make a profit from the price difference."

Shen Rongqing was stunned. "Jiaqing, are you going to agree to this?"

This is absurd. I don't know how he found out about us, but if we do this, it's like revealing the Brothers Alliance's trump card.

"He already knew some of the cards," He Jiaqing chuckled in the foot bath tub. "Help him with this. Then, meet him again and tell him that I hope he's doing well, but the He Family isn't in a good situation right now. I hope the He Family is doing well too."

PS: "Good morning" was a sentence Li Banfeng and He Jiaqing said when they parted ways, and it was also the last sentence they spoke to each other face to face.